[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 122 (Thursday, July 31, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S5305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                                 SOCCER

 Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, I would like to honor the city of 
Portland for hosting its first Major League Soccer All Star game on 
August 6. Major League Soccer, MLS, has rightly chosen Providence Park 
and the Portland Timbers as host for their annual All Star event, which 
this year pits the MLS All Stars against European giants, Bayern 
Munich.
  Soccer City, USA--as Portland fans have dubbed it--rightly deserves 
to host such a high-profile match. Portland is home to the most 
passionate fan base in the league for both the Timbers and the 
inaugural champions of the National Women's Soccer League, the Portland 
Thorns. Timbers games drew more than 20,000 fans per game last season, 
and the Thorns averaged over 13,000 for home games. And, of course, I 
have to mention the awesome banners displayed by Portland fans at 
Providence Park, which are second to none.
  This year, the Timbers' head coach, Caleb Porter, along with players 
Diego Valeri and Will Johnson, will represent our hometown team for the 
MLS All Stars. Congratulations to them for making all Oregonians proud. 
Special thanks should also go to team owner Merritt Paulson, whose hard 
work getting a team to Portland paid off when he was awarded this great 
event.
  I commend the Portland Timbers, the Portland Thorns, the Timbers 
Army, and the Rose City Riveters for their stellar community outreach 
and charity work in Oregon. Whether it is partnering with the Make-A-
Wish Foundation, building soccer fields for youth, or collecting school 
supplies for local schools, the Portland Timbers show they are a first-
class organization through their outstanding civic engagement.
  I send my congratulations to the MLS players who have made the All 
Star team and who will represent the league against an international 
opponent. It is exciting to host Bayern Munich, a team who fields some 
of the recent World Cup championship players from Germany. I wish both 
teams good luck in the match, but as the Timbers Army says: ``There's 
no pity in the Rose City!'' Go MLS All Stars.

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